Few people have managed Celtic in two spells, but Neil Lennon is one of them.
Even fewer have done it in three, but that is the remarkable situation that Martin O’Neill has found himself in.
O’Neill has answered Celtic’s SOS twice this season, first after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers and again after the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.
On both occasions, he has done a stellar job of steadying the ship amid a truly chaotic season on and off the pitch.
But even he can’t stop the Celtic board from taking flak during transfer windows, so Lennon has discussed the club’s model from his own experience.
Where do Celtic still need to strengthen after signing Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo?
Neil Lennon on Celtic board model after Martin O’Neill question
In Lennon’s first spell, transfer business was, arguably, quite good – certainly in terms of player trading.
But by the time of his second spell, the board were under intense scrutiny as the club blew the chance to win a tenth league title in a row.
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By this point, it feels irreconcilable. So what does Lennon make of the current situation?
Working as a commentator for TNT Sports on Celtic’s 4-2 win over Utrecht, Rory Hamilton asked how difficult it will be for O’Neill in his current position.
He said: “It’s a good question. I never had a problem with it when I was the manager, in both of my spells.
“Obviously there’s no director of football at the minute, so that needs to be addressed. Martin’s obviously come in on a full-time basis until at least the end of the season.
“He wanted his own players brought in, not the players that were maybe in the pipeline before. It’s his show now, so that might’ve had, maybe, a change of plan or change of options.
“But certainly, I can’t answer that. I don’t know what goes in behind the scenes. In my two spells, I never really had a problem with the transfer window or transfer deals in general.”
Asked if the club might have issues due to not knowing who the manager will be next season, he continued: “Yeah, possibly.
“What some clubs do is sign some players for the club, regardless of who the manager is. Celtic don’t work that way.
“So I would imagine that now, it will be Martin’s call. The players there were before, it might’ve been under Wilfried Nancy and Paul Tisdale.
“That’s changed, but to change that in a couple of weeks is difficult to do. So I know that there’s been a mountain of work going on behind the scenes.
“I’m sure that the club will be working until twelve o’clock on Monday to get players in, and I’m pretty confident that there will be deals done.
“Martin will want that, and the club will want to do it for him as well.”
Do you agree with Neil Lennon?
Celtic’s transfer targets as window nears close
The target nearest to joining Celtic seems, at the minute, to be Fares Ghedjemis of Frosinone.
The left-footed right-winger plays for Frosinone in Serie B, and reportedly has a price tag of £7 million. Damir Redzic of FC DAC seems not to be as close.
O’Neill also wants a central defender, and Aurele Amenda and Jamie Lawrence have been linked. None of those deals appear close, however.
Brann midfielder Felix Horn Myhre is an active target, but Brondby appear to be the favourites to win the race for the 26-year-old.
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